Letter from Baba Colin Chee, President, The Peranakan Association Singapore

(This is a monthly column to TPAS members and guests)


Dear Babas and Nyonyas,

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING POSTPONED

We regret to inform Association members that our Annual General Meeting, scheduled for 26 April 2020, has been postponed to Sunday, 21 June 2020, 2.30pm, at Asian Civilisations Museum’s Ngee Ann Auditorium. We cannot thank ACM enough for its graciousness and understanding.

This is to be in full compliance with our government’s latest requirements on safe distancing, which will apply until 30 April 2020. Our members’ well-being and health are very important to us.

However, please understand that the situation is extremely fluid and uncertain. It may still be necessary for us to postpone the AGM again.

As Lawrence Wong, Minister of National Development, pointed out in his heartfelt speech in parliament recently, the situation was changing so fast that the government had to make quick policy adjustments.

We can expect the situation to stay like this for a long time yet.

In the interim, we will be exploring virtual meeting solutions as an option.

Members should please hold on to their AGM packs recently mailed to them. We will use them if and when we meet in June.

The Proxy and Nomination Forms delivered with the AGM pack will continue to be valid.

The deadline for submitting these forms to the Secretariat is now extended to 2.30 pm, 7 June 2020.

UNEXPECTED CHALLENGES

This year is our Association’s 120th Anniversary. We had been planning to celebrate it since late 2018. Until Chinese New Year this year, all had seemed well. Then the unexpected sprung itself ferociously on us, as it did everyone else – COVID-19.

We have had to cross out all our monthly events in this first half year’s calendar, except for the very successful pre-CNY foodie trail to Johor’s outskirts. We have pushed them to next year.

But it looks like the second half year’s events – which includes the second edition of our Baba Nyonya Literary Festival, The Peranakan Ball and our Baba Nyonya International Convention – may also fall victim to the same fate. We wait and see.

THE PERANAKAN BALL

We have received strong support for The Peranakan Ball to celebrate our 120th anniversary on 18 July 2020. Members and guests have taken up more tables than we initially anticipated, but we were prepared for this and made available more tables.
Preparations for the Ball are almost complete. Now, we have to watch for changes in the current situation which are happening so quickly and respond appropriately.

The Association would like to thank everyone for their unwavering support.

We are very thankful to President Halimah Yacob for agreeing to be our Guest-of-Honour at the Ball.

A big thank you:

– To our supporters, the 550 TPAS members and guests who have committed to the dinner that evening.

– To our other donors who wish to remain anonymous.

– To Nyonya Violet Oon who will curate the evening’s menu with her friends Nyonya Sylvia Tan, Baba Christopher Tan, and Shangri-La’s chefs.

– To Masaki Matsuzaki-san, City Advisor, Hachinohe City Aomori Prefecture, who will donate award-winning sake from Nagano’s 140-year-old Takanami Sake Brewery for each table and artisanal sake-infused chocolates from Japan for each guest.

– To the generous wine connoisseur who will donate specially curated red wine for each table.

– To The Takenover which will co-ordinate the fashion show that will feature exquisite cheongsams from Lai Chan, lovely sarong kebayas from Raymond Wong, and sparkling jewellery from Foundation Jewellers and Flower Diamond Boutique.

– To the many donors of our Raffle Draw prizes.

– To the artistes in our entertainment line-up: Danny Koh and The Goodfellas, Robert Fernando, Singapore Chinese Girls’ School Choir, and our very own choir, The Peranakan Voices.

– To Immortal The Design Station Pte Ltd for their beautifully designed collaterals.

– To artist Gabby Malpas who kindly donated a gorgeous Peranakan-themed painting which we commissioned for the Ball.

– To the gracious and kind owners of Shangri-La Hotel.

– And last but not least, to our Ball Organizing Committee – Nyonya Peggy Genevieve Jeffs and her team.

While we look forward to the Ball in July, we must also prepare ourselves for the possibility that it may have to be postponed to next year.

We have secured a date for this eventuality.

If we do have to move the Ball to May 2021, I would like to assure our donors, members and guests that the Association shall do the right thing.

Your General Committee, together with the Ball Organising Committee, will review the situation and take a decision around the middle of May.

We thank you especially for being so patient with us and not even asking if we plan to postpone or cancel it. Kamsiah!

CONVENTION

The bigger challenge facing us is the 33rd Baba Nyonya International Convention set for November this year.

Again, the event’s key elements are already fully in place.

But how do we sell tickets to the convention in such a crippling environment? When COVID-19 is on the rise in every country. When borders are closed, airlines are grounded, travel and personal mobility is curbed?

When businesses are failing, job insecurity and unemployment are on the rise, and when we can’t even see what is going to happen in this crisis the next day?

We pray for guidance as we anticipate, observe, decide and take one careful step at a time going forward.

UNPRECEDENTED TIMES

These are unprecedented times. We must come together as Singaporeans and join the national effort in the concerted battle against the virus.

Please be scrupulous about your personal hygiene, STAY HOME and go out only when you need to, avoid crowds – don’t add to them, be socially responsible, and maintain safe social distances wherever you are.

Most of all, please, please, take personal responsibility for your actions and prevent community spread.

May God bless each of you and your loved ones, keep you safe and healthy, and give you rest. Please take care and be at peace.


Blessings,
Colin Chee
Unity. Stability. Growth
It is not going to be business as usual
31 March 2020